Feeding habits of six anuran (Amphibia: Anura) species in a rainforest fragment in Northeastern Brazil

AUTOR(ES)

Santos, Ednilza M., Almeida, Argus V., Vasconcelos, Simão D.

FONTE

Iheringia. Série Zoologia

DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

30/12/2004

RESUMO

Although Brazil encompasses one of the most abundant anuran faunas in the world, quantitative information on anuran ecology and diet are limited, especially in the Northeastern region. We analyzed the diet of six species: Hyla albomarginata, Hyla cf. branneri, Hyla minuta, Phyllomedusa aff. hypochondrialis (Hylidae), Leptodactylus natalensis, and Physalaemus cuvieri (Leptodactylidae) in a temporary pond in a rainforest remnant in Pernambuco, between 1999-2000. We analyzed diet composition, degree of food preference, and seasonal variations in diet. Leptodactylus natalensis and P. cuvieri showed higher diet diversity, whereas H. minuta consumed fewer food items. Insecta, Arachnida, and plants were preferential items for most species. Acari were consumed by all species; Hymenoptera, Odonata, and Coleoptera were also often consumed. A slight increase in diet diversity occurred in the rainy season. The species showed a generalist feeding behaviour, although P. cuvieri consumed Formicidae as major prey item.

Documentos Relacionados

• Genetic analysis reveals candidate species in the Scinax catharinae clade (Amphibia: Anura) from Central Brazil
• Evolution of erythrocyte morphology in amphibians (Amphibia: Anura)
• Diet and trophic niche of Lithobates catesbeianus (Amphibia: Anura)
• Density and richness of leaf litter frogs (Amphibia: Anura) of an Atlantic Rainforest area in the Serra dos Órgãos, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil
• Environmental parameters affecting the structure of leaf-litter frog (Amphibia: Anura) communities in tropical forests: a case study from an Atlantic Rainforest area in southeastern Brazil